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Safe Holidays for Your Pets

Happy howl-idays from the ARL! The most festive time of the year is upon us, and we want to make sure your pets enjoy the holly-jolly times with you while staying safe and sound.

Stick to their diet.

There’s no one keeping you from delighting your taste buds with an array of holiday foods, but your pets should stay on their normal diet to avoid any digestive upsets and toxins. If you want to spoil your pet with a little holiday feast, a little bit of deboned turkey, plain sweet potatoes, and plain canned pumpkin (unspiced) are all safe options. Chocolate, onions, caffeine, and alcohol are all toxic to pets, so keep them out of reach.

Beware Of Decorations

Perhaps the biggest signature of the holiday season is the decor. Christmas trees, tinsel, strands of lights, garland, candles, and poinsettias all announce the arrival of the most wonderful time of year, but the hazards they possess keep veterinarians rather busy.

Poinsettias are considered toxic, and, if ingested, can cause your pet to drool, vomit, and have diarrhea.

Plastic decorations such as faux trees, tinsel, and garland can look like an appetizing feast to your pet. Ingestion of these holiday decorations can lead to extensive digestive issues, which means high vet bills and pure misery for your cat or dog.

Then there are those twinkling lights. Strands of lights and candles are enticing to say the least, but too much curiosity can lead to electrocutions and fires.

Watch your exits

The holidays are full of hustle and bustle, which means your pet could easily become overwhelmed and try to escape. Make sure all your doors and windows are locked, be careful when inviting guests in so your pet doesn’t dart out the door, and equip your pet with an ID tag and a microchip to help ensure you’re reunited if she does escape.

To help ease your pet’s fears, set up a safe room for him to relax in. The room should be quiet and one that they’re familiar with — such as a bedroom or family room. Put some of your pet’s favorite toys and comfort items in the room as well to keep him occupied and calm. A T-shirt or blanket that smells like you is also a good idea.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so help your pet enjoy these festive times by keeping these simple tips in mind. Happy Howl-idays from the ARL!

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The Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) is Iowa's largest nonprofit animal shelter, caring for many thousands of pets each year. The ARL serves people and pets from across the state of Iowa through its programs, which include pet adoption, humane education, pet behavior training, spay/neuter, animal cruelty intervention and much more.Learn More About Us